I am trying to get back into sewing after not having looked at my machine for 20 years. I bought a Singer 2 years ago and figured it was time to use it. My qwillow is assembled and I am trying to sew the pillow onto the quilt front. The layers are thick- cotton, flannel, and low loft batting. The problem-my bobbin thread keeps bunching up horribly. I am using a size 16 needle. There is no dirt in the bobbin case. I am using Coats and Clark thread. Is my needle size wrong? Please help if possible. My granddaughter is so excited for her qwillow :-(

I have made many, many of these quillows and I didn't use batting in the "pillow square".
When the quilt is folded into the pillow you don't really need the batting. Please let me know how you make out.
Good luck, Kutnso

I did not use batting either. But it seems it could be your tension needs to be very loose and the needle size large,,that's usually what causes "birds nests" (bundles of thread).LOL Good luck.

I made a quillow once and even had piping around the edge of the "pocket" and I didn't change anything....thread, needle or tension. See if your bobbin is getting low.

[quote=debbieumphress]I did not use batting either. But it seems it could be your tension needs to be very loose and the needle size large,,that's usually what causes "birds nests" (bundles of thread).LOL Good luck.[/quo

Do you mean the top tension maybe needs to be loose?

You might want to check and be sure your machine is threaded correctly, esp. through the tension, and the bobbin is inserted the right way.

Right, I did that and still have bunching.

It sounds like you need to use a Walking Foot because of the multiple layers that you are now dealing with. That would help all the layers feed through together.

I believe the needle you are using is too large, designed at size 16 for very heavy thread. The needle being too large for the thread can cause puckering because the thread moves about too much when the stitches are being formed.

The needle size should to be selected to FIT the thread you've selected for the project, and secondly the task. Size 16 needle is very large. I don't have any C&C thread, so I'm not sure what it's weight is, but I bet it's not so much as to need a size 16 needle.

If I were to guess I would try a Quilting Needle (sharp tip) in size 75/11 or maybe a 90/14. Make sure you are threaded correctly, then put on a walking foot.

Hang in there!

Thanks for the explanation. My machine is going in for servicing in 2 weeks because I broke the presser foot lifter today (sigh) and then I will try a different size needle like you suggested. I thought I needed a larger needle due to the thickness of the layers, but my thread must be too fine for a 16 needle. This forum is teaching me so much. And I sure need it!!
:P

My pillow is partially sewn onto the quilt, but now the thread just keeps bunching no matter what I do. I did quilt the pillow front and hate to take it off and make another pillow without the batting. I may do that though if after getting the presser foot lifter fixed and attaching the walking foot, I still have thread problems. Thanks for the help. :)

I also broke a needle (16) today while sewing the pillow onto the quilt. Is that an indication that I need a larger needle?

Broken needles happen for a variety of reasons, in your case I doubt that it is too small. Needles can break for lots or reasons, like it's hitting the bunched up threads or getting caught up in them. It could have a burr that you don't even see, and it could be defective.

Is the thread balling up under the needle plate?
If so, the machine is not threaded correctly, or the top tension is too LOW.

Whether it is the thread, the needle, or the layers is only a matter of figuring out which. Tension is simply a balancing act between these factors. So the first thing. Make absolutely sure the machine is threaded correctly. That is an easy thing to mistake. Get out the manual and double check. Find a needle that fits your thread, make sure the needle is inserted in the correct direction and that the thread path through it is correct. For instance on my Bernina the thread goes through the needle from the front, on very old Singer I have the thread comes from the back through the eye of the needle. Once you are certain that the machine is threaded correctly, then test stitch on some other fabric. If that works, then you know it is not your machine. If there is still looping or birdnesting then the tension on top is too loose, adjust the tension and keep testing. Once everything looks good, try the layers most likely with the walking foot on for best results.

Let us know what happens.

Have you checked the tension on your bobbin? You may have knocked it out of whack.

if need be, get some paper and put that over the area you want to sew. since it's the bobbin, try pinning it on either side of the area to sew. it should help and then you can tear it away. worked for me on the top of something i was having trouble with. perhaps it will work with the bobbin thread too.

LOOKEY :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: what I just found as I was cleaning out my sewing closet!!

Are you trying to sew a pillow to a quilt? If you do that you can't lay on the pillow and cover up with the quilt at the same time.

A quillow on the other hand, is a quilt with a pocket so the quilt folds up into a pillow.

I am making a quillow. I have the quilt sewn, but when I tried to sew the pillow onto the quilt, it must have been too thick and now the bobbin is bunched up. I also broke the presser foot lifter while I was trying to fit all the layers under the foot. so until the machine can be repaired at Joann's in 2 weeks, the project is on hold. my machine and I usually end up doing battle. sigh....

you might try holding on to the needle and bobbin thread when you start a new seam sometimes the thread will get pulled to the bottom and make a nest I have done this for years no matter what kind of machine I have.

I checked my manual and it said the same thing. I was holding onto both threads so that isn't the problem, but it doesn't hurt to be reminded of it. :P

While your machine is in for repair will they check out your tension and make sure the machine is sewing OK?

Yes, I have a list of items to be checked by the repairman. e.g. tension, broken presser foot lifter, and automatic needle threader that only works sometimes. I am going to try and sew the pillow onto the quillow tomorrow, but since I have to manually lift up the presser foot while I slide the quilt under it (tricky, to say the least) and the bobbin tension is sometimes birdnesting, sometimes not, I may not get much done. Wish me luck!

could it be because your presser foot lifter is broken that is affecting your tension?

Yes, I'm sure that is a possibility.